On our latest trip to the eastern parts of Europe, we stopped at a city known as Győr in Western Hungary.
As this city is not particularly well-known, I thought I would share my reasons for visiting Győr.
Pros — Reasons to visit Győr
When in Hungary, there are plenty of reasons why you should visit the historical city of Győr.
Day Trip from 3 European Capitals
Győr is located in the Vienna-Budapest-Bratislava triangle.
It's situated at the center between the city of Vienna (the Austrian capital), Bratislava (the Slovak capital) and Budapest (the Hungarian capital).
Each capital is approximately only 1 ½ to 1 ½ hours away from Győr by car or train.
Thus, Győr is an ideal day trip from any of these cities!
We traveled to Győr because we were searching for a place to stay between Bratislava and Budapest, and Győr is located right on the A1 highway between these two cities.
Rooms are not all that pricey in Győr, the city was chill during peak season and had a lovely vibe.
Charming Old Town
The old town of Győr is picture-perfect and very lively. One of the main perks is that it's almost a car-free city center (not many cars drive there).
The colorful houses remind you of another era, and the architecture was nothing like the one you will see in Budapest.
At the center of it all is a large main Széchenyi Square with the Saint Ignatius of Loyola Benedictine Baroque Church, and another significant square is the Bécsi Kapu Tér (Vienna Gate Square) with the Carmelite church nearby.
Cobbled streets with era-old Austro-Hungarian buildings turn the city into a maze where you will have fun getting lost.
Stroll around the city, explore the unique locally run boutiques, or go on a walk along the Rába river and take in the vibe of this young and classy regional hidden gem.
Historical and Cultural Significance
Győr has been around since Ancient times and was initially a Celtic settlement known as Ara Bona.
The Romans built a military base with a fort and included the city of Arrabona to the Roman Pannonia region.
Eventually, around the year 900, the Magyar people took over the city with Stephen I, king of the Magyar, renaming the city to Győr.
Over the ages, Győr turned into a powerful seat of power for the Catholic Church as it was prosperous and thriving.
The city survived the two Turkish invasions, and a status as a free royal town, awarded by the empress Maria-Theresia of Austria, followed soon after.
Universities, monasteries, and hospitals have positioned Győr as a destination for intellectuals, even to this day.
All of this and much more of the vivid history of the town is still very much visible and will excite every history buff.
Unfortunately, the city doesn't have a dedicated museum that talks about the history of Győr, but the Rómer Flóris Art and Historic Museum has a small minimal exhibition devoted to the subject.
Consider visiting some historical buildings to learn more about the town. This includes the Győr Town Hall, the Apátúr-Ház, the remaining castle walls, the Basilica of Győr with diocesan treasury, the Castle Dungeon, the Synagogue with museum, and socialist National Theatre.
Museum and Art
We started to explore Győr as we walked along the Rába river, and art was obviously omnipresent in this historical city.
During the summer months, you will come across random temporary art installations along the riverside and old town center, but also permanent sculpture and more adorn the urban landscape.
The city also doesn't lack on art related museums such as:
- Rómer Flóris Art and Historic Museum -
- Margit Kovács Exhibition — Ceramic and Sculpture Art Collection by the Hungarian Artist Margit Kovács.
- Tile Stove Exhibition — A small museum telling the tale of tile stoves.
- 3D Galéria — An interactive, family-friendly art galleries.
- Magyar Ispita — Permanent furniture and Art exhibitions.
Not an Art Museum, but still worthwhile mentioning and most probably a point of interest for all families, is the Xantus János Zoo.
Budget-friendly
All in all, the town is budget-friendly, especially if you compare it to the nearby capital Budapest and all the Austrian destinations nearby.
You can get terrific meals at a decent cost and accommodations at a fair rate.
Most sights don't cost the world, and the price of exhibition tickets won't burn a hole into your pockets.
Cons — Why you might want to skip it
Győr is one of the best cities to visit in Hungary, and honestly, it doesn't really have many downsides.
But, I don't think someone should travel thousands of miles to just see Győr. The best way to experience it, is on a day trip from any of the nearby capitals.
Yet, this city is not for you if any of the following bothers you:
- There isn't much to see. The attractions are limited and many are hardly ever open.
- Most attraction descriptions are in Hungarian only. Most people don't understand English (except in Hotels and Restaurants).
- Some historical buildings outside the city center are crumbling. This was most evident, as we stayed on the other side of the old town.
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